Power driven surf board



2 Sheets-Sheet Filed NOV. 19, 1954 Q8 NE um ww awn/whom Mew/e A. Fry

av. 12, 1957 FRY POWER DRIVEN SURF BOARD 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 19,

2,812,736 Patented Nov. 12, 1957 fine lUWF-ZR DRIVEN SURF BOARD Merle A.Fry, Lansing, Mich.

Application November 19, 1954, Serial No. 469301 2 Claims. (Cl. 114-124)This invention relates to surf board construction, and more particularlyhas reference to a surf board or related small boat on which the ridermay be supported in a prone position.

The main object is to provide a generally improved water craft of thetype stated which can be used to afford a particularly high amount ofindividual pleasure, can be used in many types of water sports, and,further, can be operated as well as constructed at a relatively lowcost.

More specific objects of the invention are to provide an air intakemeans for a closed hull of a boat of the type referred to, through whichair is drawn to cool the motor, with said air intake means being sodesigned as to open automatically whenever the bow is lifted clear ofthe water; to provide a motor and associated drive means which can bebodily shifted longitudinally of the hull to provide a selectedbalancing of the hull, whereby to equalize weight and thus adapt thesurf board for use by differ ent individuals; provide an improvedcombination steering and throttle mechanism; and to provide acomfortable support of improved design for the prone operator.

Other objects will appear from the following description, the claimsappended thereto, and from the annexed drawing, in which like referencecharacters designate like parts throughout the several views, andwherein:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional View substantially on line 11 ofFigure 2;

Figure 2 is a plan section substantially on line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a top plan view;

Figure 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, detail section showing the driveassembly whereby the drive can be placed in forward, neutral, andreverse positions;

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the steering mechanism per se, portionsbeing broken away, the full and dotted lines showing different positionsof said mechanism; and

Figure 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, longitudinal sectional viewthrough the bow of the boat of the automatically operable air intakecontrol device, the full lines showing such device in open position andthe dotted lines showing such device in closed position.

A hull it having a substantially fiat bottom 12, is formed with a scowtype how 14, sides 16 bowed outwardly along curving lines adjacent thebow and converging toward the stern, and a stern 18, having an obtuselyangular vertical section as best shown in Figure 1. A deck 2% inclinedfrom the horizontal when the boat is normally positioned, is provided atthe bow, and terminates at its rear edge a relatively short distancefrom the forward extremity of the craft. Abutting against the rear edgeof deck Ztl is a deck plate 22 extending the rest of the way to thestern, and having side edges registering with the side walls in. A low,upwardly extending, peripheral flange 24 on plate 22 defines a shallowrecess over the full area of the deck plate, and seating snugly in saidrecess is a cushion or pad 26 on which the rider may be comfortablysupported in a prone position. A chin rest 28 extends upwardly throughplate 22 adjacent the front end of pad 26, and in a rearwardly extendingfoot support board 30 projecting beyond stern 18 there are formedcommunicating foot-receiving holes 32 immediately in front of which isan ankle support pad 34.

Formed in bottom 12 is an elongated, shallow, wide motor well 36extending longitudinally and centrally of the hull and having along itsopposite sides slideways 38 on which a small, air-cooled internalcombustion engine 40 is slidably mounted for adjustment longitudinallyof the hull, whereby to equalize weight and provide a proper balanceaccording to the desires of the particular user.

A flywheel 42 of motor 4!) is faced laterally of the hull at one side ofthe motor, and has a peripheral flange 44 (Figure 4) frictionallyengaging the periphery of a drive wheel 46 straddled by a shifting yoke48 pivotally connected at 55) to a sectionally formed control rod 52 thelength of which may be adjustable through the provision of a connectingsleeve 54 in which the sections of rod 52 are telescopically adjustable.At its forward end, rod 52 is pivotally connected (Figure 1) to thelower end of a shifting handle 56 fulcrumed intermediate its ends as at58 to swing about a horizontal axis extending transversely of the hull,and having its upper portion projecting through a slot 6d of deck 20.The rider, by swinging handle 56 about its fulcrum, adjusts drive wheel46 to any of three positions shown in Figure4. In its full lineposition, wheel 46 will be rotated in one direction, to effect forwardmovement of the water craft. In its middle position it will be out ofengagement with the flywheel flange and will not be propelled eitherforwardly or rearwardly by motor 49. In the dotted line position at theleft of Figure 4, wheel 46 will be rotated in a direction to move theboat or surf board rearwardly.

Wheel 46 is splined on a spline shaft 62) journalled at its ends inbearings 64 supported on the bottom 12. Also splined on shaft 62 is afan drive pulley 66 about which is trained belt 68 driving a pulley 79mounted on a bracket '72 secured to the motor housing, the pulley 'itlrotating a shaft on which is provided a cooling fan '74.

A propeller drive pulley '75, also splined on shaft 62, has a belt '78trained thereabout. Belt '78 drives a driven pulley 8t? rotating adriven shaft journalled in a bracket 82 carried by the motor housing.Said shaft is designated at $4 and adjustably telescopesin a connectingsleeve .86, in the other end of which is adjustably telescoped a shaftmember 88 journalled in a bearing 96 and connected by universal joint 92to a propeller shaft 94, rotating in a sleeve mounted in the stern andhaving at its rearwardly projecting end a propeller for driving thewater craft.

When the motor is adjusted longitudinally of the water craft, it carrieswith it pulleys 66 and 76, and suitable adjustments are made through themedium of connecting sleeve 86 in the length of the propeller driveshaft. Further, suitable adjustments are made in the length of theoperating rod 52 through the medium of connecting sleeve 54, which issimilar to the sleeve 86.

The motor speed is controlled by a throttle cable 9d, extending througha. generally vertical steering column 1% rotatably mounted in deck iiiand secured at its upper end to a transversely extending steering handle102, the left handle grip of which is rotatable so as to twist cable 98in a manner to control tie motor speed.

A pair of steering cables 104 extend longitudinally of and within thehull, and are connected at their front ends to the opposite ends of afront steering bar 31% extending diametrically of and secured mediallybetween its ends to the rotatable steering column llilil. At their rearends tndinally of the hull. Connecting bar 110, at its rear end, isconnected to the midlength portion of a third steering bar 112, throughthe medium of a lost motion or sliding pivotal connection 114. At itsopposite ends, bar 112 has pivotal connections to the front ends ofrudder bars 116 secured at their rear ends to vertically disposed,transversely spaced, twin rudder shafts 118 journalled in stern 18 andprojecting out of 'the stern. Rudders .119 are secured to the projectingportions of the shafts 118.

By turning the steering handle in a selected direction, 'as for exampleto the dotted line position of Figure 5, the twin rudders are turned tosteer the boat in a corresponding direction.

/ Means is provided for venting the interior of the boat to' provide airfor the motor cooling fan. To this end, at the bow there is provided atransverse air vent opening 120 extending the full width of the bow.Extending transversely of the bow from end to end of said opening is asemicylindrical air vent closure or damper 122 (Figures 2 and 6)rotating on a transversely extending shaft 124. Fixed to the closure 122is a short finger 126, pivotally connected to the front end of a link128, the rear end of which is pivotally connected at 130 to the upperend of a vertically depending arm 132 fulcrumed adjacent its upper endon a stub shaft 134 projecting laterally from one side of the hull asshown in Figure 2. At its lower end, arm 132 is connected to a weight136.

When the craft lies normally in the water in its Figure 1 or Figure 6position, with its nose elevated, the closure 122 is in .open positionas shown in Figure 6. When, however, the nose dips, arm 132, remainingvertically positioned, will cause closure 122 to turn in a clockwisedirection about its axis 124, through 45 degrees, thus closing the airintake vent 120 against the admission of water into the hull.

At the rear end, the hull has'a screened opening 138 constituting an airoutlet opening. Thus, air entering through the normally open vent 120 isdrawn longitudinally of and within the hull by the fan 74 to cool themotor and is expelled through the opening 138.

It is believed apparent that the invention is not necessarily confinedto the specific use or uses thereof described above, since it may beutilized for any purpose to which it may be suited. Nor is the inventionto be necessarily limited to the specific construction illustrated anddescribed, since such construction is only intended to be illustrativeof the principles, it being considered that the invention comprehendsany minor change in construction that may be permitted within the scopeof the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A water craft comprising a hull; a longitudinal slide- Way within thehull, a motor mounted on said slideway, for adjustment of the motorlongitudinally of the hull to selected positions, whereby to effect apredetermined distributionof weight along the hull; a drive propeller;and a driving connection between the motor and propeller, said drivingconnection being longitudinally extensible to permit said adjustments ofthe motor, said driving connection including a flywheel on the motor, aspline shaft extending longitudinally of the hull adjacent the motor, adrive wheel engaged with the fiy wheel for rotation by the fly wheel andslidable longitudinally of the spline shaft, a drive pulley also splinedon the shaft to shift longitudinally thereof, a driven shaft supportedon said motorrfor movement with the latter, a driven pulley on saiddriven shaft and drivingly connected to said drive pulley, and alongitudinally extensible propeller shaft connecting said driven shaftto said propeller.

2. A water craft comprising a hull; a longitudinal slideway within'thehull, a motor mounted on said slideway, for adjustment of the motorlongitudinally of the hull to selected positions, whereby to efiect apredetermined distribution of weight along the hull; a drive propeller;and a driving connection between the motor and propeller, said'drivingconnection being longitudinally extensible to permit said adjustments ofthe motor, said driving connection including a flywheel on the motor, aspline shaft extending longitudinally of the hull adjacent the motor, adrive wheel engaged with the fly wheel for rotation by the fly wheel andslidable longitudinally of the spline shaft, a drive pulley also splinedon the shaft to shift longitudinallythereof, a driven shaft supported onsaid motor for movement with the latter, a driven pulley on said dn'venshaft and drivingly connected to said drive pulley, and a longitudinallyextensible propeller shaft connecting said driven shaft to saidpropeller.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,052,323 Davis Feb. 4, 1913' 1,804,442 Smith May 12, 1931 2,094,136Stravvn Sept. 28, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS 602,632 Great Britain May 31,1948 696,860 France Oct. 20, 1930

